Police charge two men in string of burglaries

St. Louis – Police have arrested two men they say are responsible for dozens of business break-ins in south St. Louis County.

Prosecutors charged David J. Stauder, 46, of Lemay with 16 counts of burglary and 11 counts of felony stealing. His alleged accomplice, Nicholas Hinkle, 21 faces also faces charges of stealing as well as two burglary counts.

Detective Sgt. Thomas Lasater of the St. Louis County Police said the men typically struck restaurants and other small businesses.

"If there was a safe there, they would use a variety of tools to get the safe out of the wall or the cabinet," Lasater said. "In one instance the safe was surrounded by concrete and too heavy to carry, so they used a sledge hammer to break the concrete away from the safe."

Lasater said Stauder confessed to 44 business burglaries altogether.

He said the suspect recently served prison time for burglary, and detectives recognized him in surveillance videos.